evaluating panofsky’s “gothic cathedral as philosophical edifice” position
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Evaluating Panofsky’s “Gothic Cathedral as Philosophical Edifice” Position
Erwin Panofsky (1892-1968)Neoplatonic theory
of lightScholasticism = visual logic of Gothic church
Two “controlling principles” assimilated as “mental habits” by the architects
Reims Cathedral, Reims, France, 1211-90
I. Panofsky’s Gothic Architecture + Scholasticism thesis
Scholastic thought = Visual logic
1. manifestatio - elucidation or clarification
2. concordantia (Latin) – reconciliation, pattern for considering problems in relationship to conflicting authority of the past.
Question (quaestio) followed by:videtur quodsed contrarespondeo dicendum
wholeparts (partes)smaller partes
membraquaestiones (questions)
articuli (articles)
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1265-74)
I. Panofsky’s Gothic Architecture + Scholasticism thesis
Scholastic mental habits best represented in structure of summas
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1265-74)
1.
Scholastic treatise organization13th century
11th-century manuscript
Paleographer Robert Marichal, “L’écriture latine et la civilisation occidentale,” in L’écriture et la psychologie des peuples (Paris: A. Colin, 1963), 199-247.
1. Homology between Scholastic thought and graphic composition 1.
Robert Marichal, “L’écriture latine et la civilisation occidentale,” in L’écriture et la psychologie des peuples (Paris: A. Colin, 1963), 199-247.
1. Homology between architecture and scholastic calligraphy 1.
Amiens CathedralLast Judgment portal, 1220-35
Autun CathedralLast Judgment portal, 1130-35
1.2. Contrast: Pre-Scholastic habitus vs. Scholastic habitus
Romanesque:determinate and impenetrable
High Gothic:Delimits interior from exterior
Maria Laach Abbey, Germany Cologne Cathedral, Germany
3. Pre-Scholasticism and Scholasticism on faith and reason (Romanesque vs. Gothic)
Romanesque:determinate and impenetrable
High Gothic:Interior projected through exterior
Maria Laach Abbey, Germany Cologne Cathedral, Germany
3. Pre-Scholasticism and Scholasticism on faith and reason (Romanesque vs. Gothic)
Romanesque:variety of subdivisions
Cluny III
Gothic: uniform division and subdivision
2.4. Panofsky on Gothic unity
Gothic: uniform division and subdivision
Amiens Cathedral
2.4. Panofsky on Gothic unity
Romanesque Cathedral of St.-LazareAutun, France, 1120-46
Gothic Cologne CathedralCologne, Germany, 1248-1322
5. Scholasticism insists on a homologous arrangement of parts and parts of parts 3.
Romanesque Autun Cathedral Gothic Cologne Cathedral
5. Scholasticism insists on a homologous arrangement of parts and parts of parts 3.
Romanesque Autun Cathedral Gothic Cologne Cathedral
5. Scholasticism insists on a homologous arrangement of parts and parts of parts 3.
Marienkirche, Pirna (near Dresden), Germany, 1502-46, Late Gothic hall church
6. Gothic with a tendency toward all too unified space: Late Gothic hall churches 4.
Marienkirche, Pirna (near Dresden), Germany, 1502-46, Late Gothic hall church
photographed with Canon EOS 5D lens
4.6. Gothic with a tendency toward all too unified space: Late Gothic hall churches
Marienkirche, Pirna (near Dresden)
Gothic with a tendency toward unified space: Late Gothic hall churches 4.
Marienkirche, Pirna (near Dresden)Gloucester Cathedral, England
choir b. 1337
nave, 1502-46
4.6. Gothic with a tendency toward all too unified space: Late Gothic hall churches
Marienkirche, Pirna (near Dresden)
nave, 1502-46
“wild men” on the flying rib in apse
4.6. Gothic with a tendency toward all too unified space: Late Gothic hall churches
Images of Soissons Cathedral (France) after WWI – inspired Pol Abraham’s “illusionism”
7. Scholasticism vs. the ends of the spectrum (illusionism) 5.
Romanesque Durham (and Caen) began by saying something before being able to do it
Gothic Chartres singulariter voluti (Latin) independently vaulted arches
5.7. Scholasticism vs. the ends of the spectrum (structural rationalism)
Panofsky: visual logicmid 19th cen.: structural
rationalism
1854-68
Pol Abraham: illusionism
Façade of Cologne Cathedral, Germany
Soissons Cathedral (France) after WWI
7. Scholasticism vs. the ends of the spectrum 5.
Panofsky: visual logic(demonstrated in architecture)
Scholasticism: cognitive logicdemonstrated in summas
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1265-74)
6.7. Scholasticism vs. the ends of the spectrum
Two “controlling principles” assimilated as “mental habits” by the architects
Reims Cathedral, Reims, France, 1211-90
Panofsky’s Gothic Architecture + Scholasticism thesis
Scholastic thought = Visual logic
1. manifestatio - elucidation or clarification
2. concordantia (Latin) – reconciliation, pattern for considering problems in relationship to conflicting authority of the past.
Question (quaestio) followed by:videtur quodsed contrarespondeo dicendum
wholeparts (partes)smaller partes
membraquaestiones (questions)
articuli (articles)
Panofsky’s Gothic Architecture + Scholasticism thesis
concordantia (Latin) – reconciliation, pattern for considering problems in relationship to conflicting authority of the past.
Question (quaestio) followed by:videtur quodsed contrarespondeo dicendum
videtur quod, sed contra, respondeo dicendum“it is seen that,” “but on the contrary,” “I answer saying that . . .”
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1265-74)
Plans
Nôtre-Dame Laon Cathedral Amiens Cathedral
7.8. Concordantia and confusing and contradictory trends
Bourges Cathedral
7.
Amiens CathedralLaon Cathedral (as planned)
8. Concordantia and confusing and contradictory trends
Nôtre-Dame Laon Cathedral
7.
Romanesque St.-Étienne, Caen
Early Gothic “reverting back (?) monocylindrical piers”
8. Concordantia and confusing and contradictory trends
St.-Denis, Paris
St.-Nicaise, Reims, Francefaçade 1231 (destroyed)
Nôtre-Dame, Paris, south transept1258-60, by Jean de Chelles
9. Concordantia – Sic et non – and the rose window 8.
9. Concordantia – Sic et non – and the rose window 8.
France: Strasbourg Cathedral Italy: Cathedral of Assisi, 1140-1253
9. Concordantia – Sic et non – Rayonnant elevation 9.
Reims Cathedral
9. Concordantia – Sic et non – Rayonnant elevation 9.
Reims Cathedral St.-Denis, Paris, nave
10.
1979 2005
Medieval history and contemporary theory
20th-century theorists who began education as medievalists:
George BatailleJacques LacanPierre BourdieuRoland Barthes
1972; Eng. translation 1984